NATO considers broader role in Libya
By Paula Newton, CNN
March 25, 2011 -- Updated 1829 GMT (0229 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* NATO is assuming command of the Libya mission
* It is considering whether to go beyond enforcement of the no-fly zone
* At issue is whether the alliance will assume the role of protecting
civilians on the ground
Tune in to "AC360º" for the latest on NATO's command over the no-fly operation
in Libya. Watch "AC360º" at 10 p.m. ET Friday on CNN.
Brussels, Belgium (CNN) -- As NATO prepares to take over the Libya mission,
alliance officials said Friday they are considering a broader role that goes
beyond enforcement of a no-fly zone.
After days of acrimonious discussion, NATO officials hailed their decision to
take command as swift and historic and vowed a "seamless" transition of
leadership from the United States to NATO, which could happen as early as
Sunday.
"In the course of a single week NATO allies have launched both the arms embargo
and the no-fly zone operations," said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. "This is
a clear demonstration of the allies commitment to fulfill their obligations
under the U.N. mandate and to show their resolve to do what it takes to protect
the people of Libya."
But whether NATO will assume the role of protecting civilians on the ground --
as mandated by a U.N. Security Council resolution -- remains at issue. The
operational heart of the mission could hinge on if and when to intervene with
airstrikes when civilians appear to be at risk.
A decision on what NATO officials are calling "no-fly plus" could come as early
as Sunday after a meeting of NATO ambassadors.
NATO and U.S. officials say discussions are ongoing to bring the entire mission
under NATO control. A senior American administration official said that while
countries have agreed NATO will take over the rest of the mission, "there are a
couple more steps in the planning process that will need to be taken."
A senior U.S. defense official said that NATO's announcement "has not caused
any change to our operations."
"They're just taking over an operation that's for the most part, already
established," the official explained.
Beyond that, tense exchanges are also expected at a summit in London next week,
where officials will try to lay out how far they are willing to go militarily
against Moammar Gadhafi.
"We expect that ministers will set the wide political guidance at next week's
international conference in London to take forward the implementation of the UN
Security Council Resolution 1973," Lungescu said.
The main question, the officials said, is whether NATO forces should attack
Gadhafi's military as part of the mission to protect civilians. The Turkish
contingent is arguing for the most limited interpretation of what is allowed
under the U.N. resolution.
"The tricky question is when you have a situation where his forces are
advancing on some positions rebels hold, do you hit?" a senior U.S. official
asked. "If there are forces that are trying to get through rebel forces to kill
people, there are some in the alliance like the Turks who said, 'we didn't sign
up for that.' There are those like the French who are saying, 'of course we
did."
The U.S. official said the Obama administration's interpretation is to do
whatever is required to protect civilians. In the rush to quickly protect
civilians from Gadhafi's forces closing on Benghazi, the sources said that some
countries and Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa might have not fully
understood what "any means necessary" meant.
Officials and diplomats said they are confident the rules of engagement can be
worked out over the weekend before NATO takes command. "Let's just give it a
day or two and see where things stand," the senior defense official said.
Overall NATO command will be based in Naples, Italy, but Turkey has agreed to
allow a sub-command stationed at an airbase in Izmir, Turkey. NATO is already
supervising naval embargo operations from Naples.
The alliance said Friday that Canadian Lt. Gen. Charlie Bouchard, stationed in
Naples, will take the lead for the Libya mission.
The Turkish air component will help give NATO the credibility it seeks in
taking military action against a Muslim nation.
The tone of mission, however, already seems to have shifted, with NATO
commanders attempting to enforce the U.N. resolution to the letter of the law.
"No-fly zones are impartial, there is no one authorized to fly within that
zone," said Group Captain Geoffrey Booth of NATO's Air Force Command. "It is
not necessarily pro-Gadhafi or anti-Gadhafi forces. It's the impartial
enforcement in line with the (resolution)."
CNN's Chris Lawrence and Elise Labott contributed to this report.
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